The recent third phase of monetary measures gives loan deferral for all sectors to June 2022. This is an important relief measure for an economy hit by COVID-19. The banks initially wanted to give relief to only certain affected sectors like hotels, manufacturing etc but the government led by the …

Although it is completely a personal choice to wear a badge that one wishes, however, it is utterly odd to see wide ranges of badges being worn by our youth today. It is tempting for me to share my personal feelings and so I am sharing this as a concerned …

As of Friday evening Phuentsholing has had a total of 498 cases since the recent outbreak with cases growing daily despite multiple lockdowns and restrictions since the first two cases were detected on 16th April 2021. Samtse also has had 399 cases in a relatively short period of time despite …

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA – The year 2020 was unforgettable for all of us, and tragic for many. No one had imagined that a lethal virus originating in horseshoe bats could spread so fast and upend our lives so thoroughly. And in most countries, there is still no sign that normalcy …

As India went through a massive second wave and stopped the export of its vaccines, there were doubts in Bhutan about where it could get its second dose from. The prognosis did not look good as many countries around the world were desperately competing for vaccines. However, now Bhutan not …

LONDON – Having been postponed from 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympic Games are approaching their opening on July 23 amid a chorus of doom. Japanese and foreigners alike are predicting, or even outright demanding, the event’s cancellation. Among those coming out in favor of scrapping the Games is …

Last week the Parliament learnt that around 9,000 students who have passed from class 12 are unable to find colleges or higher education. The reason is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and given that the majority of these students would have normally gone to India and other COVID hit countries …

ITHACA – The World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report, published twice a year, is the most important source for evaluating the current and future outlook for emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). The recently released June edition is especially significant because of the warnings it contains. Someone reading this report too quickly could easily …

The real story in the Mining Bill is not just the deferral of the Mining Bill or the debate between the National Council and National Assembly members, but it is something more complex and fundamental. When we talk of mines we are essentially talking of Dolomite, Gypsum and Coal. Despite …

NEW YORK – The Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily has been forced to close. On the day it was shuttered, people queued to buy one last copy; a million were printed. The paper was doomed since last year, when China’s Communist government imposed a harsh National Security Law on Hong Kong. Its …